Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead The Spiritual Warriors Unite with Inspiring Anthem 'Brothers and Sisters'

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead The Spiritual Warriors Unite with Inspiring Anthem 'Brothers and Sisters'
The Spiritual Warriors
Fri Jun 16, 2023
Cashbox Canada

The Spiritual Warriors drop “Brothers and Sisters”, the second single from their upcoming album Indigenize – check it out on YouTube here:

Fronted by father and daughter duo Leroy and Daisy Joe, The Spiritual Warriors weave together Indigenous chants with contemporary roots, rock and reggae to create a sound that reflects life in the coastal mountains of the Lil’wat Nation.

With lyrics that swing smoothly from English to U’cwalmicwts, the Lil’wat language, all set to a reggae beat, Spiritual Warriors create a unique and intriguing fusion of two culturally important musical styles. It’s uncanny how seamlessly well The Spiritual Warriors combine Indigenous drumming and chanting with the cadences familiar to fans of reggae. It’s a marriage that makes perfect sense.

On the brand new single “Brothers and Sisters”, the band takes on social issues endemic to Canada’s many Indigenous nations. Singers Leroy and Daisy lament the countless Indigenous brothers and sisters who end up homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or working on the streets.

“This song is to let them know that they are still welcome home,” Leroy says, “that there is a fire waiting for them to keep them warm and that their grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestors have not abandoned them.”

During live performances, the singer and guitarist says he often gets a lump in his throat while thinking of friends and family members who ended up on the streets, some never making it back home to Lil’wat Nation, near Pemberton, British Columbia.

“I pray and sing for those trying to make it back home,” he says. “The song was so hard to write. I kept weeping while writing it.”

Drummer Rich Doucet, bassist Mike Rowe, guitarist Cuyler Biller and keyboardist Quentin De Lorenzis set a perfect rock-steady reggae beat for Leroy and Daisy, who chant and deliver their pleas in both English and U’cwalmicwts. The second verse, sung in U’cwalmicwts, is especially poignant.

“Brothers and Sisters” follows the recent Spiritual Warriors single, “Oh Ama Sq’it”, written in Leroy’s St’at’imcets language, also native to the Lil’wat Nation. A joyful, upbeat track, almost calypso in feel, it encourages people to get up, have fun and dance. It’s a big hit during their live performances.

Both tracks appear on the full-length Indigenize, recorded at Abbotsford’s Studio Downe Under and produced and engineered by Leroy’s long-time collaborator, Andreas Schuld. Leroy says the record is Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation initiative and the Murdered and Missing Ondigenous Women and Girls campaign.

Indigenize features eight tracks written by Leroy with the mission to give hope to his people and help non-Indigenous folks to better understand the issues that are still faced today by First Nations people. Composer Russell Wallace, longtime friend and original member of the band, co-wrote 2 tracks and arranged vocal harmonies on the album. Musicians on Indigenize include Norm Fisher, Rich Brown and Geeta Das as well as special guests rappers Geo the Voice (George Ignace, Secwepemculucw) and Ostweleve (Ronnie Dean Harris, Stō:lo/St’át'imc/Nlaka'pamux).

Listen to Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/56OvLjXbi0dpDlMCQHRyjh

Internationally acclaimed, Spiritual Warriors’ 2019 album Ancestors received four Native American Music Awards (NAMA) nominations in 2019, winning for Best World Music Album. In the group’s previous incarnation as Kalan Wi, they won a 2013 NAMA for Best Historical/Linguistic Recording for their album Celebrate.

This truly unique band continues to produce important, meaningful, and culturally significant music, following Leroy Joe’s passion to preserve and promote his language and culture. Walk alongside The Spiritual Warriors as they take you on a cultural journey to the natural heartbeat of the Indigenous drum and the Lil’wat/St'at'imc people.

thespiritualwarriors.net/home

Reviews
Album
The Spiritual Warriors
Month: Jul 2023
I Want Poetry I Want Poetry
Matt Zaddy Matt Zaddy's Captivating Blend of Folk-Rock and Modern Soul…
Mike Bern Mike Bern's Thunderous 'Reverberation' Showcases The…
Ryan Wayne Photo Credit Brent Orr Photography Americana/roots-rock Singer-Songwriter Ryan Wayne “Overheard in an All…
Shale Alt. Rockers SHALE Captures Raw Anxiety In "Shake" And Announce B.C.…
Suzanne Cook British Singer-Songwriter Suzanne Cook Tells the Stormy, Cinematic…
The Nolas Montreal-Based Alt. Rock Band The Nolas Capture The Latin Spirit In "Mexico…
Mindbender Supreme Mindbender Supreme’s 13th Project, The King Of Queen Street,…
Altered By Mom Canada’s Rock’N’Roll Power Couple ALTERED BY MOM Unleashes Their…
André Bisson Canadian Blues Guitarist André Bisson Releases 'Dusty Albums…
Chin Injeti Renowned Songwriter and Producer Chin Injeti Makes Triumphant Return…
Gideon Foster Gideon Foster's Haunting Single 'Prophecy' Takes…
Beck Norman and James Keith Norman Toronto-Based Beck Norman and James Keith Norman Build Neo-Classical…
Jeff Eager Vintage Pop Soulster Jeff Eager Releases Song For The Ages –…
Jessica Chaz Jessica Chaz Releases Hopeful, Wistful Acoustic Version of Her…

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 100
  • Page 101
  • Page 102
  • Page 103
  • Current page 104
  • Page 105
  • Page 106
  • Page 107
  • Page 108
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers